Cruise Question Of the Day

JoeyandDavid · May 27, 2008

I really think that the air fares are going to be the deal breakers for vacations.

I agree

Suzila · May 27, 2008

I really think that the air fares are going to be the deal breakers for vacations.

I agree

We count ourselves as so lucky to live close to the port. It takes us 45 minutes to get there, and one of the main reasons we go on so many cruises...it's so easy and quick to get on a ship for just a long weekend or a Mon-Fri. This last NCL cruise we took was 8 days, and it involved nothing but a quick trip to the port by car.

rogue · May 27, 2008

Here's another question,

Have you ever missed a port while you were on a cruise? What, if anything, did the cruiseline do to compensate for the missed port?

55ChevyLady · May 27, 2008

I don't see it affecting our cruising other than we may be cruising from closer to home to save on costs getting to the ship. Even with the fuel charges now I still think dollar for dollar crusing is the best vacation deal around.

I agree with Mary Lou, for the money cruising is by far the most "Vacation Bang" for your buck as you all well know. It's just the getting there and back now and the additional fuel charges the cruise lines are imposing but that will just have to be considered as part of the price of the cruise now.

Our last extended family vacation we took we went to Washington DC for 2 weeks, drove cross country. That was 3 years ago. 2 weeks in a hotel and food for 4 people...I wonder what that would cost today??? We all loved it and would like to go back but of course a guided tour of the White House is not an offered excursion of a cruise ship... :laugh: (The White House was great, but we didn't get to see the West Wing... LOL

TheSkipper · May 27, 2008

Here's another question,
Have you ever missed a port while you were on a cruise? What, if anything, did the cruiseline do to compensate for the missed port?

Yep, missed Bermuda on our Crown Princess cruise out of Brooklyn two years ago. Heavy seas. Princess said "Sorry." There have been a couple other missed ports among all of our cruises. Don't remember anything special that the cruise line did. They warn you in your docs that this can and does happen.

cruisetarp · May 27, 2008

We have never missed getting into a port due to rough seas but on one Bermuda cruise we were due to spend 3 days in Hamilton leaving on a Thursday afternoon at 4PM. With a hurricane approaching we were ordered to leave Hamilton on Wednesday at 11AM. Because of all the extra time the Captain was able to go around the hurricane and we had one of the smoothest trips ever back to NY docking right on time.

Suzila · May 27, 2008

Here's another question,
Have you ever missed a port while you were on a cruise? What, if anything, did the cruiseline do to compensate for the missed port?

We missed a Hawaii port last year due to a possible hurricane (can't remember which island it was), but we cruised instead past one of the areas that few people get to see. It was pretty, we had a day at sea, and I didn't miss the excursion we had scheduled that day.

Now, have you ever made an unscheduled stop somewhere? We did on our Panama Canal cruise. We were on the Star princess, which, at the time, was the largest ship ever to go through the canal. The captain didn't know if we'd even make it through. Well, it fit, with only 3 feet clearance, and even then, the ship kept hitting the sides of the canal. So, they emptied the ship of most of the fuel, which raised us up higher, then we cruised through the canal. Since we didn't have enough fuel to go the rest of the way, we made an unscheduled stop in Panama. They had the locals come out and entertain us. Quite interesting, and a lot of fun.

rogue · May 27, 2008

We were on he Crown Princess for her 3rd voyage a couple of years ago and left New York about 8 hours late. They told us that the fuel company didn't bring enough fuel and they were going to bring more. When they finally brought it, it was the wrong fuel. By the time we did leave, it was too late to get to the 1st scheduled port (Grand Turks), so we would go directly to our 2nd port. We did get an extra sea day and $200 cabin credit. Amazingly, we heard very little in the way of complaining.

DebbieandJerry · May 27, 2008

I have to agree that I don't think "I'd give up" anything for a cruise. This is our vacation of choice. We save (time and money) for this luxury. We don't spend extravagantely when we are on the ship and I'm not sure that those items (spa, bar, other dining options) would lower the cruise price overall. If anything, they are revenue generators. Besides, you don't have to partake in them.

Perhaps the thought should be, what would you cut down on at home (when you are not cruising) so that you can continue to enjoy this type of vacation?

DebbieandJerry · May 27, 2008

Increase in fuel charges (air, ground, ship) have made both of us more conscientious in our driving and shopping. Trips are consolidated. No more do I "run to the store" for that loaf of bread because we MIGHT run out of bread in the next 2-3 days.

As for travelling, we have always watched our pennies and have tried to get the best bang for our buck. So it just means that we will be looking for even better bangs.

Both of our families had nieces getting married (last June and November) in the east coast where we did not go. We could not justify the all day flying, hotel, car and food expenses for a 4-6 hour affair. We sent them very nice checks instead.